PIA announces the Intertech Technology Awards 2014

Technology: IC3D suite
Company: Creative Edge Software
IC3D Suite is a 3D real-time packaging simulation and design application to combine multiple packaging disciplines in one product. IC3D suite comes with a direct link into Adobe Illustrator allowing your 2D Illustrator artwork to be directly mapped onto your 3D models as base artwork or as labels.

Technology: EFI IQuote
Company: EFI
EFI IQuote is an estimation and quoting system designed to provide sales, estimating and management team with a solid end-to-end process that generates estimates optimised for businesses. The software explores each path a job can take through a facility, calculating the best layout and the best resources for each job and for each quantity (with an unlimited number of quantities).

Technology: Equinox
Company: Esko 
Equinox Expanded Color Gamut (ECG) Technology is Esko’s patented technology for converting packaging graphics from CMYK and spot colour to seven-colour process. It is applied in the pre-press department when preparing jobs for press. Converting entire files results in extremely close matches to spot colours, improved pictorial images, and the ability to print more colours than available ink stations on the press, resulting in improved image quality and brand impact.

Technology: Full HD Flexo
Company: Esko
Esko Full HD Flexo is a platemaking system for superior flexo printing for all packaging applications. It utilizes a patented, fully digitally controlled platemaking system combining high-resolution 4000ppi imaging with a unique inline UV main exposure unit. An LED-array delivers UV power density strong enough to fully control the plate polymerization process during main exposure. For the first time, flexo plates are imaged, exposed and delivered directly to the plate processor, without need for light table exposure.

Technology: Vpak Packaging Presses
Company: Goss
Vpak packaging variable sleeve press delivers a new level of packaging printing productivity with high web offset print quality and web economic advantages for folding carton, flexible packaging, preprint and label applications.

Technology: Heidelberg Stahlfolder PFX Feeder Technology
Company: Heidelberg USA
Launched at Drupa 2012, Stahlfolder's PFX feeder technology can boost a folding machine's output by up to 50 percent compared with conventional cross-fold production. Despite this much higher output, the entire unit still operates at the same machine speed, thereby ensuring precise folding quality and stable production conditions.

Technology: Hinterkopf digital printer D240

Technology: HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press
Company: HP
HP Indigo 20000 digital press is a 30-inch wide, roll-to-roll solution capable of producing diverse digital applications, including flexible packaging, labels, and shrink sleeves on film or paper from 10 to 250 microns.HP Indigo 20000 boasts of superior liquid ElectroInk technology which is the only digital colour printing process that matches gravure printing.

Technology: GL Spectis 1.0 series
Company: JUST Normlicht
GL Spectis 1.0 is a practical and reliable light measuring device. GL Spectis 1.0 can be combined with additional equipment to measure any type of light sources, displays as well as LED lights. To meet the challenges of the modern lighting industry and demanding LED market, GL Optic developed a practical hand-held spectrometer which can be used for everyday incoming quality control of light sources, field work of quality engineers and other professionals who deal with the quality of light. 

Technology: Jetleader 1500
Company: TKS
TKS's digital inkjet press, the Jetleader 1500 is a complete system to produce inkjet products inline. The roll-fed Jetleader 1500  produces newspapers, tabloids, magazine, digest and variable sheet cutting. Using drop-on-demand print technology and water-based ink, the press delivers a resolution of 600x600 dpi at speeds up to 492 fpm. It offers a web width of 24 inches or 12 inches for a broadsheet.

Technology: Xeikon ICE Toner
Company: Xeikon
Xeikon ICE toner has been specifically designed to expand digital label production to heat sensitive substrates like Poly Ethylene substrates and thermal transfer labels. Perfectly compatible with the digital label suites, it allows label printers to create new possibilities and opening up new markets while guaranteeing the high Xeikon quality standards. 

Since 1978, the InterTech technology awards have honored the innovations and development of technologies which are predicted to have a major impact on the graphic arts and related industries.

The independent panels of judges have deliberated over many technology nominations ranging from digital presses and related enhancements to a variety of mobile and web-based software.

The Intertech stars, recognized as a symbol of technological innovation and excellence, will be presented before an audience of industry leaders during the 2014 Premier Print Awards Gala featuring the Intertech technology awardson September 28, 2014